The issues facing the UK tech recruitment industry

Let’s take a closer look at the issues facing the UK tech recruitment industry and what tools and resources are available to help businesses thrive:

Attracting top tech talent

With the UK tech industry now valued at $1tn, competition to recruit the best tech talent is fierce. The industry already employs 3 million people but with skills shortages exacerbated by Brexit and the introduction of IR35, employers are facing an uphill struggle to attract the next generation of workers.

Successful companies understand the importance of talent attraction, and according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, 88% say labour shortages are their biggest concern. In the race to attract the best talent, new recruitment approaches are essential. In today’s candidate-driven market, video interviews can help recruiters shortlist talent quickly. In fact, over half of businesses surveyed said that switching to video interviews sped up their time to hire.

Video interviews enable employers to gain a rounded impression of applicants and assess their suitability before they move on to the next recruitment stage.

Videos can also be used early in the process to attract talent and boost candidate conversions. Video stories that feature current employees and provide behind-the-scenes insights into a company can help bring a role to life and encourage more people to apply.

CWJobs’ video recruitment tool can be used to interview any candidate from any device, offering a more flexible, effective interview experience for companies and for candidates. Our video pitch feature allows candidates to summarise their suitability and motivations for applying, helping companies make shortlisting decisions quicker. Automated interviews can also be set up, where candidates answer pre-determined questions, to help employers assess and compare candidates at speed.

Developing a diverse and inclusive workforce

It’s been well documented that a diverse workforce can improve company performance and profit. However, Hays’ Diversity and Inclusion Report 2021 finds that while 62% of professionals say their employer actively talks about the importance of ED&I in the workplace, less than half (48%) think their employer combines discussion with noticeable action.

Before the pandemic, the CIPD reported that 14% of employers put diversity and inclusion in their top three HR priorities, compared to just 5% one month into lockdown. Keeping diversity and inclusion on the business agenda is vital for companies to drive real change and appeal to the sensibilities of the next generation of tech workers. Employers that don’t have D&I as a top priority could be missing out on quality talent.

CWJobs’ Equality Boost can help companies deliver a tangible impact on their DE&I strategies. Our tool can extend candidate reach into new and diverse talent pools, broadening the range of skills companies can attract to their business.

Equality Boost harnesses a unique blend of data science to pinpoint when, where and how business can reach the tech talent they need. Recruiters can target suitable candidates by demographic, location, interests and social mobility, displaying job adverts to a targeted audience. The tool can also reach passive candidates through display advertising campaigns.

Closing widening skills gaps

Our research finds that 94% of tech employers believe there is an industry-wide skills shortage. Candidates with expertise in emerging sub-sectors like cyber security, big data, and artificial intelligence are in particular demand, and have been for some time.

Combined with the re-establishment of IR35 and the often-widespread confusion about hiring freelancers and contractors, many companies are struggling to keep up with demand for specialist skills.

Candidate scarcity is impacting business success, and as a result, candidate confidence is high. Top tech talent know their skills are in demand and have high expectations when it comes to seeking employment.

In addition to offering candidates the type of benefits they’re looking for, businesses also need to ensure that they have a wide hiring reach, alongside accurate candidate targeting. Our Global Hiring solution helps companies engage with talent, improve employee diversity, and reduce time to hire.

As an alliance of jobs boards, covering 135 countries, Global Hiring can help companies reach relevant jobseekers that they want to hire, no matter where they are in the world.

Building a strong employer brand

Our research finds that 81% of workers in the technology sector agree that a company’s reputation is an important factor when applying for a job. And one of the most effective ways a company can create a positive reputation is by carefully considering its branding.

Essentially, an employer brand is the way talent perceives an organisation as an employer. This can include several factors, such as how a company cares for its employees, the perceived culture within the business, and the career opportunities that are available to employees.

According to Universum’s 2021 research, when looking for a reliable opinion on what company to work for, tech candidates turn to their professional network, other people in the industry and online reviews to help with their decision-making. As such, companies need to consider how they’re perceived in the wider industry. It’s no surprise to find that 90% of the UK’s most attractive employers have a clearly defined employer value proposition.

To become an employer of choice, companies need to adopt an insights-led approach, drawing on the research and case studies of employer brand specialists like Universum. Developing a compelling employer value proposition ensures the right people want to work at a company. When combined with highly engaging and targeted recruitment content, companies can attract top talent with expertly crafted messaging and a strong visual identity.

Futureproofing the talent pipeline

Demand for tech skills is at an all-time high, yet candidate availability is scarce. Creating a long-term hiring strategy has always been a challenge in the tech industry and many employers struggle to engage with the next generation of workers. However, young people are an untapped talent pool, and companies to engage with them early in their careers to futureproof their business and the wider industry.

Gen Z are the first truly digital generation and as they enter the tech workforce, they bring with them a digital skillset that exceeds that of generations before them. With their unique perspectives on technology and culture, employers are presented with a huge opportunity to tap into their expertise.

Total Jobs’ Early Careers resource harnesses a unique cluster of products that helps companies define and project their employer brand story to future hires. It enables companies to evolve their value propositions and to attract the future tech talent they want to hire.

It’s important now, more than ever, that employers understand what students are looking for in a tech role. As Europe’s largest student platform, Early Careers takes a targeted approach to reaching immediate and future hires.